A promising seamer from Bengal, Shami Ahmed had played only 15 first-class and 15 List A games when he was drafted into India's ODI team to play Pakistan in Delhi in January 2013. He showed that the faith wasn't misplaced, as he bowled tight lines in a low-scoring match to return figures of 9-4-23-1, thus becoming only the eighth bowler, and the first Indian, to bowl four or more maiden overs on his ODI debut.

However, his Test debut, which happened in November that year, was perhaps even more impressive as he reverse-swung the old ball appreciably at good pace to take 4 for 71 against West Indies in Kolkata.

Shami's strengths are his ability to move the ball - both old and new - and his accuracy. His quick promotion to the Indian team was the result of impressive performances in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy: in five matches he took 28 wickets at 21.35, including two ten-wicket hauls, against Madhya Pradesh and Hyderabad. He has also enjoyed early success in the Twenty20 format, picking up 14 wickets in his first eight domestic Twenty20 games, and was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for the 2011 IPL season.ESPNcricinfo staff